Leeds United's season of turmoil

The crisis-hit club confirmed in a statement to the Stock Exchange this morning they "may be forced to seek the protection of an administration order".

The club are currently bottom of the Premiership with caretaker manager Eddie Gray in charge following the departure of Peter Reid on November 10 after the shattering 6-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

Leeds began the season with a promising 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle - and although a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham and a 0-0 draw at home to Southampton followed, Mark Viduka's 89th-minute goal at Middlesbrough gave them a 3-2 win and saw them 12th in the table at the end of August.

Things got worse in September with a record of played three, lost three, with disastrous defeats to Leicester (4-0), Birmingham (2-0) and Everton (4-0).

That run left them third from bottom going into October - a month Leeds fans were not looking forward to because it contained matches in successive weeks against Manchester United and Liverpool.

Seth Johnson's two goals lifted spirits in a 2-1 win at home to fellow strugglers Blackburn, but the visit of the champions (1-0) and a trip to Anfield (3-1) brought two further defeats.

There was more woe for Leeds as they lost their Carling Cup tie 3-2 to Sir Alex Ferguson's side in extra-time, although of more concern were Alan Smith's actions in hurling a plastic bottle which had been thrown on to the pitch back into the crowd and hitting a supporter.

As a result, Leeds had slipped to next-to-bottom by the time Arsenal came calling on November 1 - and the Gunners put on their own early fireworks display as they raced into a 4-0 lead inside 50 minutes, with striker Thierry Henry scoring twice.

Smith netted a consolation, and the Elland Road crowd cheered their side on until the bitter end. But there were more problems off the field when Reid revealed he had dropped Viduka for the clash for disciplinary reasons - the striker was believed to have turned up late for training.

Leicester then ended a run of five straight league defeats to send Leeds bottom.

And the 6-1 drubbing of Portsmouth saw things go from bad to worse for the Elland Road club - with Viduka not even involved in the squad after another clash with Reid.

Two days later it was confirmed to no-one's surprise that Reid had left the club.